Trawling boat. (Photo: Moscuzza)
ARGENTINATuesday, January 06, 2015, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
The Maritime Front Joint Technical Commission (CTMFM) has established a summer closed area for hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishing in the Common Fishing Zone (CFZ) shared by Argentina and Uruguay, in order to ensure conservation and rational exploitation of the resource.
The measure will be in force from 1 January to 31 March 2015 both inclusive, and covers the area limited by the following coordinates:
- 34°45' South - 52°46' West;
- 35°12' South - 52°05' West;
- 36°27 'South - 53°46' West;
- 37°12' South - 54°38' West;
- 36°46' South - 55°10' West.
It is also prohibited the use of bottom trawl gear targeting demersal species in this area and only vessels fishing for pelagic resources having an observer may operate, as established by Resolution 16/2014, published in the Official Bulletin.
On the other hand, the CTMFM set the total allowable catch (TAC) of hake at 50,000 tonnes in said common fishing zone for the current year, through Resolution 17/2014.
According to the National Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, between 1 January and 22 December 2014, a total of 249,585.6 tonnes of hake were landed in Argentina, while in 2013, around 274,499 tonnes were discharged.
Official data indicate that during the first half of 2014, the Argentine fleet downloaded 3,062.9 tonnes of hake from the CFZ.
The Uruguayan fleet discharged 8,904.4 tonnes of the species during that period,Pescare informed.